As one of Europe's most productive and sustainable dairy producers, Belgium exemplifies how milk and milk products can be produced without compromising quality or environmental stewardship. Despite a decreasing number of dairy farmers, the Belgian dairy industry continues to produce more milk every year. Among the many sustainability policies and farming methods, an openness to new technologies and automation has significantly benefited the dairy industry.
Across Belgium and Northern France, nearly 3,000 dairy farmers benefit from the services of a company that bridges the gap between increasingly stringent policy requirements and maintaining healthy profit margins.
A Journey from Farm to CEO: Kristof Naessens and Distrifarm
DISTRIFARM BVBA, led by founder and CEO Kristof Naessens, is a specialized supplier of livestock farming equipment in Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. With agriculture in his blood, Kristof embodies the spirit and resilience of the Belgian dairy industry. Born into a small farming family in Northern Belgium, Kristof always had a passion for agriculture. Despite studying the field, he found it challenging to start a small farm. Determined to be self-employed, Kristof began his entrepreneurial journey in 1999, selling chemicals door-to-door from his truck.
Building Distrifarm: A Quarter-Century of Growth
Over the past 25 years, Kristof has transformed his solo venture into Distrifarm, a thriving enterprise supporting dairy farmers across Belgium and Northern France. Under his leadership, Distrifarm has expanded its product range and workforce, becoming a trusted name in the dairy farming community. Kristof's role is multifaceted: he leads a dedicated sales team of eight, explores new products and innovations, manages customer relationships, resolves issues, and motivates his team to achieve peak performance. "Sometimes I feel like a firefighter, solving new problems is a lot like putting out fires," Kristof reflects.
Navigating Challenges in the European Dairy Industry
The dairy industry is a complex ecosystem, subject to the whims of nature, market fluctuations, and tighter regulations. Kristof is acutely aware of the hurdles facing the dairy industry in Belgium and Europe. High land costs demand high milk yields for a return on investment, and government regulations push for sustainable farming practices to mitigate climate impact.
One of the most pressing challenges facing dairy farmers is the rising cost of labor. As farms become larger and more complex, the demand for skilled labor has outpaced supply. Kristof notes that approximately 10% of Belgian farms have closed, with more closures anticipated. Additionally, with 60% of farmers over 50, succession planning is a significant concern. The difficulty in finding farm workers is driving a shift towards automation.
Managing cows and herds has increasingly become a high-tech endeavor. Farmers today have access to a wealth of data that can optimize their operations, from tracking the health and growth of calves to monitoring milk production. However, the journey towards digitization is not without its challenges. Farmers often find themselves in a delicate balancing act between complying with stringent government mandates and maintaining their livelihoods.
For instance, while data-driven insights suggest that faster-growing calves can begin producing milk sooner, thereby increasing profitability, regulations often require farmers to leave calves with their mothers for longer periods. This creates a tension between optimizing for efficiency and adhering to rules designed to promote animal welfare.
RoboPusher Nimbo to the Rescue
One of Kristof's core responsibilities as CEO is scouting new manufacturers to work with to expand business and provide new technology to Distrifarm's customers. Enter Sveaverken and its RoboPusher Nimbo robotic feed pusher. After testing a Nimbo on a farm to satisfactory results, Kristof decided to begin a partnership with Sveaverken, offering the Nimbo to Distrifarm clients.
Kristof highlights several key benefits of the Nimbo, including its competitive pricing, remote management via a mobile app, and consistent feed pushing that ensures fresh feed for cows. When introducing the Nimbo to customers, Kristof emphasizes setting realistic expectations. While the compact robot may not push feed like a tractor, it excels at keeping feed fresh and accessible, promoting increased feed intake.
The Distrifarm team would always work with the customer to understand their current operations, needs, and challenges first, before recommending a solution. The in-person consultation gives clients peace of mind as they walk away with a clear understanding of the set up process, and what success looks like for them.
Thomas, an employee at SCEA TAISNE dairy farm in Northern France, recognizes the impact of the Nimbo:
“Before the Nimbo, we pushed feed manually. Now, it's done automatically. We've seen a milk production increase of 1.5 liters per cow since installing it. It's a game-changer."
Faced with the uncertainty of how to run his family-owned farm with 140 cows while complying with new government regulations, Pieter Obin from Belgium is happy with the work Nimbo is doing on his farm to improve efficiency in milk production.
Pieter renewed his trust for Distrifarm with the installation of the Nimbo, after purchasing a HOOF'BOY cow hygiene system and ventilation systems from them previously:
"It is very important that there is always food for the cows to eat. And that's why we chose the Nimbo. It brings a lot more peace in the stable because there is always food. The app works easily, the Nimbo drives quietly. So until today I only have positive things to say about the Nimbo."
Thomas and Pieter's experiences are echoed by many of Distrifarm's clients. The Nimbo has not only increased productivity but also improved animal welfare by ensuring that cows have constant access to fresh feed. Kristof comments: "[The RoboPusher Nimbo] is also a product with a very fast return on investment. There is a higher production in milk, because cows are coming more often to the feed fence, and also the reduction of labor costs."
Embracing Innovation: The Sveaverken Partnership
As the partnership between Sveaverken and Distrifarm grew, Kristof continues to be impressed by Sveaverken's prompt and high-quality service.
"We recommend working with Sveaverken for several reasons. One of them being after-sales service. Sveaverken provides better after-sales service than the service we know from traditional European companies.
Second, they are always looking to improve their product, always trying to be a step ahead in terms of innovation.
And third, because they’re still developing their dealer network, it gives dealers an opportunity to develop new relationships.
With Sveaverken, we can generate more revenue, and we are only at the beginning." Commented Kristof.
Looking to the Future
For Kristof and Distrifarm, the partnership with Sveaverken represents an opportunity for business growth and diversification. He sees significant potential in the Nimbo and other Sveaverken products, viewing them as high-quality, competitive alternatives to traditional brands in the market.
Kristof’s vision for Distrifarm is clear: to be a catalyst for positive change in the dairy industry. By providing farmers with the tools and support they need, he is helping to ensure a sustainable future for this vital sector.
As the dairy industry continues to evolve, innovators like Kristof Naessens and companies like Distrifarm and Sveaverken are at the forefront, helping farmers navigate challenges and embrace new technologies for a more efficient and sustainable future.
Learn more about: Distrifarm Nimbo